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Contact: Andy Hira, 604.291.3286, ahira@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, pamr, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca

Website: www/sfu.ca/~ahira (upcoming link to Chinese delegation visit)

With Simon Fraser University political scientists as their personal tour guides, six high-level academicsandcivic officials from China are visiting B.C. October 9-13 to get a primer on BC’s economy.

The group — four scholars at Southwest University of Political Science and Law and two municipal officials — are from Chongqing, a western Chinese municipality and province of 41 million people. Chongqing is the fourth largest municipality in China and a regional hub for much of Western China.

Under a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) project, SFU political scientists Andy Hira, Steve McBride and Alex Netherton are charged with helping the delegation grasp the workings of the Canadian economy.

“The delegation is here to learn more about industrial promotion policies in light of China’s recent accession to the World Trade Organization, explains Hira. “B.C. is of particular interest to Chongqing because it shares a similar resource base and issues regarding federal-provincial relations on the economic front.”

As well as giving primers on Canada’s industrial policy, B.C.’s labour relations and industrial and environmental policy in Canada and B.C., Hira and his colleagues will take the delegation to government and industry offices.

The delegation will meet with officials at the ministries of finance; forests and range; energy, mines and petroleum; BC Film; BC Tourism; Sierra Wireless and the Asia Pacific Foundation.

CIDA is Canada’s lead development agency, collaborating with groups worldwide in helping developing countries build a sustainable economy.